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En breve
Despite state violence, the people of Kisangani forced the Congolese authorities to honor their constitutional right to reliable electric power.
Blessed and cursed, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s wealthiest countries in minerals, metals, and natural resources. Cobalt and copper, which are often used in rechargeable batteries and electric devices, are among the top natural resources exploited by multinational corporations. Yet, ironically, less than 20 percent of the population has access to electricity!
People were able to transform their fear of the regime into power over the system.
In 2018, the city of Kisangani, home to a major hydroelectric dam, suffered from two months of near total power shutdown. The National Electricity Company (Société Nationale d’Electricité — SNEL) was unable to service the six municipalities of the city, largely due to technical failures in the system and corrupt management. Faced by indifferent political and administrative authorities, the “Fight for Change” movement, a.k.a LUCHA (La Lutte pour le Changement in French) took on this battle.
The movement focused on mobilizing the local population, as they were the constituency most affected by the shutdown (see: PRINCIPLE: Follow the lead of the most impacted). But, awareness was a necessary predecessor to action. Because the country had been wrecked by wars and bloodshed, power outages were seen as normal and access to electricity as a fundamental right was not an urgent concern. LUCHA launched an intense awareness-raising initiative, from leafleting and banner hangs to in-person interaction and one-to-one recruitment.
Two months later, the movement called for a rally, which was followed by more marches and demonstrations (see: TACTIC: Mass street action). People held popular sit-outs at the SNEL headquarters, the Town Hall, and the office of the Provincial Governor. They marched with a single demand to the authorities: Resolve load shedding once and for all. Such mobilizations were unusual as the regime was known for its brutality. Despite anticipating repression, the people of Kisangani took to the streets, armed with the moral indignation that their constitutional rights were being violated. The regime feared that the political tide would turn against it like it recently had in neighbouring countries.
And so, shortly after the repression, the authorities dismissed the Provincial Director of the SNEL for “incompetence,” appointed a new director, and adopted a new strategic plan to resolve power shortages and improve electricity supply in Kisangani. They also announced plans to build a second hydroelectric dam. Afraid that a broader organized movement might emerge, the authorities were forced to buckle to popular pressure and find sustainable local solutions.
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The campaign designed its actions to leave no room for ambiguity about their demand, including a “light the day” action, in which people walked through the streets in full daylight with lit candles, decrying the darkness that reigned over the city as a result of the electric power shutdown (see: TACTIC: Artistic vigil).
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Gathering in large numbers at rallies, vigils, and sit-outs amplified the voice of the local population, allowing them to bypass their inept elected representatives and take up the battle directly with the authorities. Mass actions allowed activists and movements from outside the city to join forces and lend support to the local population, harnessing solidarity and a sense of unity. By using mass street actions, people were able to transform their fear of the regime into power over the system.
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Having experienced the bitterness of civil war, the people of Kisangani knew all too well how important it was to insist on nonviolence, regardless of the authorities’ response. This discipline was powerful in two ways: First, it created a sense of resilience that enabled people to overcome fear and confront police brutality, and second, it enabled the campaign to act wisely and call off the protests when the response by the regime became highly disproportionate.